National Republican., 1887-10-08
Henry Wilson, Politician.
Boston Herald.


The proposition to raise monument to
Henry Wilson In the town which was the
place OF his residence during his life in Mas
sachusetts will be recognized everywhere as
appropriate. Henry Wilson is one of tue
remarkable men Of American history In his
character and his public service. He came
from the poorer class of people as much as
did Abraham Lincoln himself, and he made
his way into prominence amid greater oD-
stacles than those with which Lincoln con.
tended. Mr.. Wilson's early advantages In
education were such only as he could make
for himself In the Intervals OF toll He
never attained a culture beyond what fitted
him for dealing with the practical affairs Of
life; but he became United States senator
from, perhaps, the most cultured common
wealth IN the Union, and he died Vice Pres
ident of the nation. This is a remarkable
career, indeed, and one that deserves to be
recognized l. the community with which he
was SO long identified.
Henry Wilson was a born politician. His
life was more exclusively devoted to politics
than that Of any public man OF distinction
OF any era Of the republic. Beginning in
his career as a shoemaker upon the bench,
and advancing to become dealer in the
materials he made, he yet was for more
than thirty years before he died in no busi
ness except In the direction of public af-
fairs. He began stump oratory when just
past his majority; he engaged in directing
party movements only few years later,
and to the end he was an organizer and
manager Of politics. During this time he
grew much in mental strength and IN OK
ecutive capacity. 1t was said of hin at first
by his opponents that his education had
been so defective that he could not express
himself in writing with decent rhetorical
skill or even grammatical correctness. He
confounded them one day by proving him
self to have been the author Of a production
that they had attributed to Charles Sumner.
He established paper and wrote for it as
part Of his work as politician.
Almost Immediately after the organiza-
tion of the Free Soil party Henry Wilson
began to be feared for his ability in the
field of politics. The disparagemeut to
which be was first subjected gave way to a
wholesome dread of his power as an oppo.
nebt. This was soon to he felt, and more
severely than had been apprehended. Mr..
Wilson engineered the coalition that over
threw the Whig power in the state, until
then thought to be even more impreguaole
in its strength than is the Republican party
to-day. He fought winning battle with It
for years, and when the pro slavery admin
istration at Washington at last took from
him the Democratic portion OF the forces he
had led, he made brilliant change of base
by going over to the American party aud
installing himself in u leading pOsiCtOa in
this organization that was to swallow up all
others. Here, where man less "a politician
might have failed, Mr. Wilson began the
most distinguished portion Of his career
He has been criticised-perhaps iustly-fO
the methods he pursued, but he was first of
| all politician. Success with him was a
duty. II he did stoop to Inconsistency anu
insincerity in his alliances, IL was to aid a
| great cause as well as to aid him self
| Through all bis career In politics Mr., VIII
son was true to anti-slavery.
| In becoming United States Senator, he
| reached an office to which he had not pre-
| viously aspired. 1t was against the tradi-
tions OF Massachusetts that the position
| should be held by one with SO imperfect a
literary training. The free soil party itself
would have selected several men for sena-
tors before Mr.. Wilson. The revolutionary
politics OF the period reversed all ordinary
calculation. II is to the honor OF Henry
| Wilson that he upheld the reputation OF
the state. He was still the active politician
-organiaing, arranging, perhaps at times
iptriguing-but he was also the able aud
useful legislator, and in debate he was
among the effective men Of his party. He
1 had the important position OF chairman OF
the committee on military affairs during the
war. His great services to his party were
rewarded later by his election to the Office
Of vice president Mr. Wilson remarked OF
this: ut gives me national recognition
which is really all that is left now to com
plete the reward Of my ambition.n
More politician, strictly speaking, than
any one Of his contemporaries of eminence,
Mr.. Wilson's services to the country, aside
from politics, were important. The Office,
he held were more important than those o
any one of his contemporaries OF his owI
state. He deserves monument in IL.